Flashing Night Light

ABSTRACT

A flashing night light includes: a night light base, a casing mounted to the night light base, a control circuit mounted to the casing and including a control substrate and light-emitting elements, and a light-transmitting unit including first and second light-transmitting plates. The light-emitting elements are controlled by the control substrate to lighten in sequence. Each of the first and second light-transmitting plates has a surface on which a predetermined pattern is formed. The patterns are arranged according to a sequence for desired displaying. The first and second light-transmitting plates include light receiving sections that are arranged to alternate in position and respectively correspond to the light-emitting elements and are fixed to the control substrate. With the light-emitting elements being arranged to lighten in sequence, lights emitting from the light-emitting elements may provide the patterns with an effect of image displaying and achieve a dynamic visual effect.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a night light, and moreparticularly to a structure design serving as a visual effect decorationarticle for use in an environmental space.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A night light is provided for the purpose of lighting of a dark cornerof an indoor space in the nighttime in order to prevent a person whenwalking from hitting or kicking any obstacle that may result in risk. Inaddition, the night light also helps in establishing atmosphere. Thus,manufacturers have developed lampshades of various shapes to attract theattention of the general consumers and to improve the desire ofpurchasing of the consumers to thereby enhance the market competitionpower of the products.

However, although the night light can help establishing a desiredatmosphere, it provides only a static and still effect. Thus, the designof the night light is an important issue for the manufacturers of theenvironment lighting. In view of this, the present invention aims toprovide a night light that overcomes the above problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to improve the visual effect of anight light in order to improve the market competition power.

Thus, the present invention provides a flashing night light, whichgenerally comprises:

a night light base, which has a side on which electric main connectionterminals are mounted for connection with a power supply to receiveelectricity therefrom;

a casing, which is of a three-dimensional configuration and has one sidefixed to the night light base;

a control circuit, which comprises a control substrate and a pluralityof light-emitting elements, the control substrate being mounted to thecasing, the light-emitting elements being mounted to the controlsubstrate in an spaced and alternating manner and controlled by thecontrol substrate to sequentially lighten; and

a light-transmitting unit, which comprises a first light-transmittingplate and a second light-transmitting plate that are light transmittableand are arranged to overlap each other, the first light-transmittingplate and the second light-transmitting plate each having a surface onwhich a predetermined pattern is formed, the patterns being arrangedaccording to a sequence for desired displaying, each of the firstlight-transmitting plate and the second light-transmitting platecomprising a light receiving section, the light receiving sections beingarranged to alternate in position and respectively corresponding to thelight-emitting elements and being fixed to the control substrate.

As such, when the power supply is conducted on, the light-emittingelements that correspond to the first and second light-transmittingplates emit lights in a sequence set by the control substrate so as tosequentially display the predetermined patterns to achieve a dynamicvisual effect.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introductionto the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects ofthe present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detaileddescription of the invention and the claims should be read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specificationand drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similarparts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will becomemanifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to thedetailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which apreferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of thepresent invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the present invention in anassembled form.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention taken from theback side.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an operation of a light-transmittingunit of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5in an assembled form.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8in an assembled form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are notintended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the following description provides aconvenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of theinvention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made inthe function and arrangement of the elements described without departingfrom the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a flashing night light (1) according to thepresent invention generally comprises: a night light base (2), a casing(3), a control circuit (4), and a light-transmitting unit (5). Thecasing (3) is securely fixed to the night light base (2). The controlcircuit (4) is fixed in the casing (3). The light-transmitting unit (5)is arranged above the control circuit (4).

The night light base (2) has a side on which electric main connectionterminals (21) are mounted for connection with a power supply to receiveelectricity therefrom and an opposite side on which a power switch (22)that controls conduction and/or cut-off of the power supply is mountedand also has a top from which a post (24) extends upward. The post (24)has a lower end portion in which a fitting groove (23) iscircumferentially formed.

The casing (3) is of a three-dimensional configuration that is graduallyreduced from an upper end to a lower end thereof and comprises an upperend (31), a lower end (32), and a side wall (33) connected between theupper and (31) and the lower end (32). The side wall (33) has a sidethat is open to form an opening side (34). The lower end of the casing(3) comprises a notch (35) formed therein and the notch (35) has ashoulder (36) extending along a circumference thereof for fitting intothe fitting groove (23). The shoulder (36) has opposite sides eachcomprising a hole (H1) formed therein. Two platforms (37) are formedabove and spaced from the shoulder (36). Each of the platforms (37) isformed by extending from the side wall (33) in a direction toward theopening side (34). The casing (3) is fit to the night light base (2)with the opening side (34) thereof A constraint plate (6) is positionedagainst the opening side (34) and is secured with threading fasteners(S) screwed into the holes (H1) so as to constrain the night light base(2) from moving with respect to the casing (3).

The control circuit (4) comprises a control substrate (41) and aplurality of light-emitting elements (42). The control substrate (41) ismounted to the platforms (37) of the casing (3) and is fixed to theplatforms 937) by adhesive bonding, screwing, or fitting. Thelight-emitting elements (42) are light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and aremounted to the control substrate (41) in an spaced and alternatingmanner and are controlled by the control substrate (41) in respect oflighting sequence, lighting timing, and light colors.

The light-transmitting unit (5) comprises a first light-transmittingplate (51) and a second light-transmitting plate (52) that are lighttransmittable and are arranged to overlap each other. The firstlight-transmitting plate (51) and the second light-transmitting plate(52) are transparent and each has a surface on which a predeterminedpattern (511), (521) is formed. The patterns can be formed throughengraving or spraying of bright paints. The patterns can be arrangedaccording to a sequence for desired displaying. Each of the firstlight-transmitting plate (51) and the second light-transmitting plate(52) has an end from which a light receiving section (512), (522)extends. The light receiving sections (512), (522) are arranged toalternate in position and each comprises a light receiving surface(513), (523). The light receiving surfaces (513), (523) respectivelycorrespond to the light-emitting elements (42). It is noted here thatthe light receiving surfaces (513), (523) are positioned against tops ofthe light-emitting elements (42) and the first light-transmitting plate(51) and the second light-transmitting plate (52) are securely mountedto the control substrate (41) with the light receiving sections (512),(522) thereof. In the instant embodiment, a snowman is taken as anexample for the patterns (511), (521), but other patterns, such asfigures, animals, characters, and totems, can also be used. Afterassembly, the patterns (511), (521) are located in a direction facingaway from the connection terminals (21).

Further referring to FIG. 4, phantom lines of the pattern (521) indicatethe portions of the pattern (521) of the second light-transmitting plate(52) that is not shielded by the first light-transmitting plate (51).The phantom lines of the lower portion indicate lights (L) thatgenerated by the light-emitting element (42) corresponding to the lightreceiving surface (523) of the second light-transmitting plate (52).When the connection terminals (21) are plugged into a power socket (notshown) to achieve conduction of the power supply, each of thelight-emitting elements (42) emits light (L) sequentially and the lights(L) so generated transmit through the light receiving surfaces (513),(523) into the first light-transmitting plate (51) and the secondlight-transmitting plate (52) to sequentially display the patterns(511), (521). With the patterns (511), (521) being displayed insequence, a dynamic visual effect can be achieved thereby improving themarket competition power of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing another embodiment of the presentinvention and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the embodiment in anassembled form. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6. Referring toFIGS. 5-7, the instant embodiment further comprises an aqua-sphere body(7). The aqua-sphere body (7) has a bottom (72) that is securely fixedto the platforms (37) with the planar section (71) facing a directiontoward the connection terminals (21) and bonded to a surface of thefirst light-transmitting plate (51) of the light-transmitting unit (5).

Further, the embodiment further comprises two opposite fixing blocks(8), which are positioned against opposite sides of the aqua-sphere body(7) and are each secured by a threading fastener (S) to the opening side(34) of the night light base (2). Opposite sides of the opening side(34) are provided with holes (H2) to receive the threading fasteners (S)to screw therein so as to constrain the aqua-sphere body (7) from movingwith respect to the casing (3).

It is noted here that when the light-transmitting unit (5) is in acondition of image displaying, the patterns (511), (521) are subjectedto an effect of magnification when viewed through the aqua-sphere body(7). Further, the liquid contained in the aqua-sphere body (7) may flowand cause refraction of the lights (L), resulting in a brilliant andgorgeous visual effect.

Further referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the casing (3) has an upper end inwhich two recesses (38) are formed and spaced from each other. Each ofthe recesses (38) may receive a decoration (9) to insert therein. Thedecorations (9) may have outer configurations that match the patterns(511), (521) of the light-transmitting unit (5) to additional providethe present invention with a decorative effect. In the instantembodiment, the decorations (9) are shown to be trees that are taken asan example for illustration, but are not limited to such aconfiguration. In summary, the flashing night light (1) according to thepresent invention provides a function of lighting and also achieves adynamic and gorgeous visual effect. When no electrical power is applied,the present invention can serve as a decoration. As such, multiplicityof function can be achieved to help improve market competition power ofa product of the present invention.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together may also find a useful application in other types ofmethods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown anddescribed and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intendedto be limited to the details above, since it will be understood thatvarious omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the formsand details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be madeby those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spiritof the present invention.

I claim:
 1. A flashing night light, comprising: a night light base,which has a side on which electric main connection terminals are mountedfor connection with a power supply to receive electricity therefrom; acasing, which is of a three-dimensional configuration and has one sidefixed to the night light base; a control circuit, which comprises acontrol substrate and a plurality of light-emitting elements, thecontrol substrate being mounted to the casing, the light-emittingelements being mounted to the control substrate in an spaced andalternating manner and controlled by the control substrate tosequentially lighten; and a light-transmitting unit, which comprises afirst light-transmitting plate and a second light-transmitting platethat are light transmittable and are arranged to overlap each other, thefirst light-transmitting plate and the second light-transmitting plateeach having a surface on which a predetermined pattern is formed, thepatterns being arranged according to a sequence for desired displaying,each of the first light-transmitting plate and the secondlight-transmitting plate comprising a light receiving section, the lightreceiving sections being arranged to alternate in position andrespectively corresponding to the light-emitting elements and beingfixed to the control substrate.
 2. The flashing night light according toclaim 1, wherein the casing has one side that is open to form an openingside, the casing being mounted to the night light base with the openingside and comprising a constraint plate positioned against the openingside.
 3. The flashing night light according to claim 1 furthercomprising an aqua-sphere body, which is of a light-transmittingthree-dimensional configuration and has one side forming a planarsection and comprises a thick and flowable liquid and glitterhermetically enclosed therein, the aqua-sphere body being securely fixedto the casing the planar section facing a direction toward theconnection terminals and bonded to a side of the light-transmittingunit.
 4. The flashing night light according to claim 3 furthercomprising at least one fixing block, which is positioned against theaqua-sphere body and is secured by a threading fastener to the openingside of the night light base.
 5. The flashing night light according toclaim 1, wherein the casing comprises at least one decoration mounted toan end thereof and matching the patterns.
 6. The flashing night lightaccording to claim 1, wherein the night light base comprises a powerswitch for controlling conduction and cut-off of the power supply.